Fairfield
Quiet Zone
Progress and Updates
REMINDER-THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN MANY OF US MAKE CHARITABLE DONATIONS,
AND BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES BUY HOLIDAY PRESENTS FOR FAMILY AND
EMPLOYEES.
Special Quiet Zone Meeting to be announced featuring Top Quiet Zone Expert Andy Mielke of srfconsulting.com.
We are pleased to announce that we have hired an experienced quiet zone consultant to make the final recommendations (crossing by crossing) for the completion of the Fairfield Quiet Zone.
Andy Mielke has worked on 25 quiet zones across the country including Burlington. We are confident that Andy will quickly provide us with professional recommendations for how to quickly and cost effectively improve our railroad crossings to qualify for quiet zone status.
We will be announcing a special presentation by Andy to review the economic, social, and health benefits of the project as well as the fastest path to completion. We encourage you all to attend and bring friends to the presentation to show the City Council the broad community support for our quiet zone. We will let you the date and time as soon as the meeting is set.
We want to again thank all of you for your support. In pledges, cash donations, and city contributions we have raised over $200,000 for this important project.
It is very likely that we will need to raise additional funds to complete our quiet zone project. We will be contacting donors who have made multi year pledges with suggestions for converting those pledges to much needed cash. For those waiting to contribute now is the time. Please contribute as soon and as much as possible. Tax deductible donations can be made by check made out to ALF FTSQZ sent to PO Box 2302 here in Fairfield. For credit card donations contact us at qt@natel.net.
Special thanks to the Fairfield City Council Public Safety and Transportation Committee members Ron Adam, Chmn., Darryn Hamilton, and Michael Halley for all their help.
Thank you as always for your support, donations, and patience with this complex process.
Regards, The Fairfield Train Safety and Quiet Zone Committee
Fairfield, Iowa New Poll: Should Fairfield be a Quiet Zone? (check the Poll tab or Poll box on the lower left)
Should Fairfield be a Quiet Zone?
63% (15 votes)
25% (6 votes)
13% (3 votes)
Financial Summary
The Quiet Zone currently has the following assets for the project:
· $90,329 in cash with all bills paid
· $45,000 in closing pledges
· $59,192 based on $84,560 in 5 year pledges discounted 30% to cover interest and nonpayment (60 individuals) that must be financed.
· $35,000 from the City of Fairfield from closing 3rd St. and 8th St. crossings
· $229,521 total funds and pledges available for project
Total cost of $315,760 less $229,521 total funds available leaving a short fall at minimum of $86,239
Email us at qt@natel.net if you have any questions. We will report to you on upcoming events.
In appreciation of your patient support,
Bill Blackmore, Michael McBurnie and Ira Roffel
Click here for Flyer & Pledge
Form
Fairfield Receives Conditional Approval by City Council, with a 5 to 1 Vote for “The Quiet Zone”!!!!
The City has agreed to contribute between $25,000 and $35,000 to our efforts. The amount depends on how much the City receives from the railroad for the closing of two crossings. These funds will help pay for initial improvements. The City will keep additional money for other worthy projects and future maintenance of the QZ. We need to raise about $90,000 to get started!!!
We need a lot of help selling raffle tickets and other fund raising efforts. It sounds like a lot of money. However, if everyone will buy and or help sell just 5 tickets each we will have the Quiet Zone. We need to call our friends, family and neighbors. Everyone will have a great chance to win a trip to Hawaii or Cancun and one of 140 other great prizes.
Please forward this e-mail and email me if you can help or want to buy tickets
Send tax deductible contributions to
AFL-FF Train Safety &Quiet Zone
PO Box 2302
Fairfield Iowa 52556
Bill Blackmore 919-1118
www.fairfieldquietzone.org
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We know you have not heard from us in awhile but we all have been working very hard to bring you good news and closure to this very important project for Fairfield. We have made some good progress thanks to Mike McBurnie securing financing for the five year pledges, the continued work of Bill Blackmore, Councilman John Revolinski, and Mayor Ed Malloy. And most important are the generous pledges and contributions many of you have made.
Unfortunately as time goes by costs go up so even though we had a firm figure before and have raised a lot of money we need a bit more to complete the project. We are doing a big push now so we can lock down bids and get started in the early spring with construction.
We are working on the idea of closing one more local RR crossing which would give us a $25,000 savings and hopefully a $25,000 share of the closing contribution from the rail road. There have been over 250 quiet zones created thought out the United States since we started our pioneering efforts. It would be a shame for a town so wonderful that is based on silence if we can not silence the train whistle and make the railroad crossings safer.
We need your help now so we can go to the City Council with all the funds in hand. We need between $35,000 to $86,000 depending on whether the City Council agrees to close another crossing. We would like to raise the full $86,000 so we don't have to depend on closing another crossing. If there is any extra money when the project is done everyone who gave will have their pro rata share of the extra money returned. You can donate a lump sum, a yearly pledge, and or become a co signer for the bank loan. All contributions will be tax deductible.
Please give what you can and send this email out to all your Fairfield friends and family even if they don’t live in town but love our community. For those who live within the sound of the train horns the value of your home will increase and your peace of mind will grow.
Send your contribution to FF Safety and Quiet Zone PO BOX 2302
Fairfield Iowa 52556
- Official Committee has been formed at Fairfield City Hall
- Raffle Prize List
Fairfield Train Safety &
Quiet Zone Update
After more than a year of hard work and great support from the community, the
Fairfield Train Safety and Quiet Zone is now within reach. As is stands now,
we have over $195,000 in available funds. We need an additional $36,000 in
cash or $48,000 in pledges to reach $232,000, which is the goal for Phase One
of the project.
The Train Committee made a strategic decision to construct the Quiet Zone in two phases, so that the project could be started sooner. Phase One includes all crossings, except 9th and 23rd, and is the most expensive part of the project. If we can secure the rest of the funds for Phase One soon, construction could start this year in Spring/Summer.
Many people may not realize that numerous Iowa cities have already developed their own Train Safety and Quiet Zone, including Ames, Nevada, Dennison, LaClaire, and just recently, our neighbors to the east, Burlington. All of these locations have felt that it was well worth the effort and was a boost to the quality of life for its citizens. A Quiet Zone does not mean you will not hear any more trains, but it does mean that the excessive honking all the way through town will stop, along with having safer crossings. The volume of trains that pass through Fairfield continue to increase each year. With this well be increased noise and safety issues.
We still need help raising the final funds to begin Phase One. In simple terms, more people have to give, in any combination: $50, $100, $200, $1,000, $4,000. Pledges will work, although cash would be best! Checks or pledges can be sent to A.L.F. Fairfield Train Safety and Quiet Zone, P.O. Box 2302. You can also go onto the website www.FairfieldQuietZone.org and print out a pledge form. All contributions are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
As of this week, we have $83,000 in cash, $52,789 in five year pledges (which includes an anticipated loan fee deduction), $40,000 in final closing pledges, and $20,000 from the City of Fairfield. Please make a contribution today. Tell your friends that you supported the Train Safety and Quiet Zone and ask them to do the same!
A QZ TROPICAL RAFFLE TICKET IS A GREAT PRESENT! WE HAVE ALREADY SOLD SEVERAL BLOCKS OF TICKETS AS PRESENTS. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND AS YOU DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING.
- Send your check to PO Box 2302, Fairfield, IA, 52556. Checks should be made out to ALF Quiet Zone. Make sure and include your name, address, and phone number. A stamped, self-addressed envelope is a nice touch and another way of supporting the raffle, but is not required.
- To buy with a credit card, please call 1-800-507-1882. Operators will be standing by 24/7 to take your order. Sorry, but even if you call right now, you only get one raffle ticket for $50, and we won't be including any valuable extra gifts!
- Visit any one of our stalwart
local merchants who are selling tickets, including Revelations, Thymely
Solutions, and Small Planet Restaurant and Bakery.
The latest news is that we believe that the Fairfield City Council will likely support a quiet zone as long as the money to pay for it comes from private sources. That means us!! We still hope that the City Council will be willing to use some funds from closing some of our existing RR crossings towards the project, but we are not counting on this. However it turns out, we will not to be discouraged or deterred from having a quiet zone just because we have to raise more money.
TROPICAL RAFFLE STARTS TODAY-to raise additional money and have some fun too, we have decided to have a great raffle. This is supported by over 100 merchants and features 2 grand prizes, 6 second place prizes, and 145 other prizes. Almost every one can win something of value. We will also have a prize exchange at the drawing event party, which will be held on Sat. Mar. 1, 2008 to help you get what you want.
Based on our current list of supporters we all, and I do mean all of us, need to help a bit. We each need to buy or help sell only four tickets. Tickets are $50 each. If for some reason you can not afford this please request your Microsoft Settlement money and maybe win a trip to Cancun or Maui. We thank so many people for their support and contribution but now we need everyone to chip in. Please email Ira Roffel at Ira@lisco.com if you can be on the raffle committee to help sell tickets. Selling tickets is a very direct way to help the cause.
We will be selling tickets at the ArtWalk tonight in front of Small Planet Restaurant and Bakery. You can also get tickets by sending a letter and check to ALF Ff. Train Safety & Quiet Zone, Box 2302, Fairfield Iowa 52556. We will send you your tickets. You can see all the prizes and the merchants that have donated them below. Thanks as always for your support.
Regards, Bill Blackmore
Quiet Zone Raffle (click to see the latest prize list)
QUIET ZONE TROPICAL RAFFLE KICKOFF WILL BE FRIDAY NOV. 9TH AT 8 P.M. AT THE OLD ARMORY. TOM MORGAN AND HIS NEW BAND WALKIN’ SHOES WILL ENTERTAIN. FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE! RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE. A REMINDER EMAIL WILL GO OUT LATER THIS WEEK. TELL YOUR FRIENDS PLEASE.
Dear Quiet Zone Supporter,
Nov 4, 2007: Please vote for these candidates if you want a Quiet Zone. Note the change in our recommendation for the 4th Ward:
We have a very important election coming up for the Quiet Zone project. All of us need to vote to let the City Council know that there is broad based support for safer and quieter railroad crossings.
The good news is that we have come a long ways. The majority of current City Council members and the vast majority of the candidates support a Quiet Zone.
However, amongst the candidates only Ira Roffel for 3rd ward and Christy Welty for the at large seat want to use any of the money from the closing of RR crossings to help pay for the $250,000 of improvements. Here are our recommendations and acknowledgement of support:
3rd Ward:
Ira Roffel,
the candidate for the 3rd Ward, has been instrumental in getting us this far.
The 3rd ward is west of
At Large: Christy Welty for the at large seat has been a consistent supporter of the quiet zone and favors using money from closing crossings towards the cost of the quiet zone. All registered voters can vote for the at large seat. STRONG RECOMMENDATION!
4TH Ward: Based on the candidate forum earlier this week, all of the candidates support the quiet zone. However, we believe that Karen Rubey is the most viable candidate and deserves our support for the 4th Ward seat.
5th Ward: Martha Norbeck for the 4th ward is strong supporter of the quiet zone and favors using money from closing crossings towards the cost of the quiet zone. STRONG RECOMMENDATION! (We want to acknowledge the hard work that current City Council member Daryn Hamilton has done to really nail down what we need to have a quiet zone. Daryn is running unopposed.)
Mayor: Ed Malloy. We want to thank Mayor Malloy for artfully framing the quiet zone debate and for his wisdom and guidance in getting us to the point where a quiet zone is now largely dependent on us raising the money to pay for it. Ed is also running unopposed.
Thanks are also due to Connie Boyer for her service to the community and support of the quiet zone. Connie is not running for reelection.
The quiet zone is not the only issue at stake here. The important thing is that everyone turns out to vote. However, remember that the message sent by this election will help the quiet zone to become a reality in the very near future. Please remember to forward this message to friends and family.
Regards, Bill Blackmore
The important thing is that everyone turns out to vote. Remember that the message sent by this election will help the quiet zone to become a reality in the very near future. Please remember to forward this message to friends and family.
|
Candidate |
Ward |
Ward Locations |
|
Ira Roffel |
3rd Ward |
West of 4th St. Including Suburban Heights and behind Econofoods |
|
Christy Welty |
at Large |
everyone |
|
Martha Norbeck |
4th ward |
includes the downtown area and near east side, north to the RR tracks |
|
Ed Malloy |
Mayor |
Everyone-even though Mayor Malloy is running unopposed, he deserves your support and vote! |
As we announced at the QZ raffle kickoff at the Old Armory, we will be having a series of events to raise both money and awareness of the QZ project. The next in this series of events, and the last of this year, will be a concert at Revelations this Sat. Nov. 24th at Revelations. The event will feature the acoustic music of the Gitano Trio, and guest vocalist Ira Goldberg. Raffle tickets will be available at the event. Admission is free with the purchase of a raffle ticket at the door. Suggested donation is $4.99 if you are not buying a ticket on the spot.
To all quiet zone supporters and music lovers,
JAZZ VOCALIST IRA GOLDBERG ACCOMPANIED BY YOURS TRULY ON THE DOUBLE BASS
VIOLINIST LEE ANNE BLACKMORE, ACCOMPANIED BY HER DAD, PLAYING GYPSY JAZZ IN THE STYLE OF STEPHANE GRAPPELLI
Not to mention all around good company for a great cause! Please tell your friends and neighbors so we get a great turnout. See you there!
We have all been disturbed by loud train whistles. Train traffic and noise are expected to increase over the next few years. Train noise disturbs us at work, at home, while talking on the phone, and even at church. Just as court proceedings are interrupted in the Jefferson County Court House, train noise will also impact indoor and outdoor events at our new Fairfield Arts and Convention Center. There is some documentation that over time this continuous loud noise may be harmful to our hearing.
Thank you for your support and inspiration. We have formed a non- profit vehicle under the Accelerated Learning Foundation “Train Safety and Quiet Zone” which you can still join, to achieve safer and quieter railroad crossings by Dec. 2007. To begin we need to raise between $50,000 and $60,000, by May 30, 2007. This is about half of what the required improvements will cost. Then we will appear before the Fairfield City Council with the initial funds in hand, letters of support from civic groups, and additional scientific document.
QUIET ZONE TROPICAL
RAFFLE KICKOFF WILL BE FRIDAY NOV. 9TH AT 8 P.M. AT THE OLD ARMORY.
TOM MORGAN AND HIS NEW BAND WALKIN’ SHOES WILL ENTERTAIN. FREE AND OPEN TO
EVERYONE! RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE. A REMINDER EMAIL WILL GO OUT LATER
THIS WEEK. TELL YOUR FRIENDS PLEASE.
August 23, 2007
There was an article a recent USA Today that states that there are now 339 existing or proposed quiet zones consisting of 2,912 crossings, according to the the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). FRA officials get calls daily from communities interested in creating quiet zones. BNSF Railway reports it has had "a couple hundred inquiries" from 28 states. So you can see we are not alone and Fairfield is part of this national concern. You can read this article at http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-08-19-quiet-zones_N.htm or at http://www.fairfieldquietzone.org/.
We are about to embark on a final push to raise the rest of the money we need to fund our quiet zone. WE NEED HELP! Right now 2 of us are doing everything, and although we have a few volunteers, we need a LOT more help if we are going to get across the finish line. Please let's don't let this opportunity slip through our fingers for lack of effort! Now is the time. Let me know when and how much you can help.
We are in the home stretch of resolving all the technical and political issues to get a quiet zone. As these issues get resolved we must be ready with the funds as there are still a few skeptical council members. So please send in your contributions. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the money available through Microsoft reimbursements whether or not you have already contributed.
Everyone can donate $100 to $200 without spending any of their own money! You are entitled to a cash reimbursement from a class action lawsuit that has already been settled by the State of Iowa and Microsoft for overpayments for software. If have any of the listed programs (Windows, MS Dos, Office, Excel, Word, Works Suite, Home Essentials) you may request a payment. If you fill out a simple form, it will take just 5 minutes. I did it myself and it is easy. Refunds will be sent starting in December 2007 for each program listed on every computer. If you are able to make an immediate cash contribution in the amount you will receive from Microsoft, that would be the best for the quiet zone. However, if you need to wait until you get your check, please apply according to the instructions below, and then advise us of the amount as a pledge. Please also ask your family and friends to do this too. It is a small effort for a big reward. If you work for a company that has lots of computers, please also ask the owners if they would apply for this reimbursement and contribute the proceeds to the quiet zone.
Reimbursement Schedule
|
Product Name |
Code |
Reimbursement Amount |
|
Windows or MS-DOS |
A |
$16 |
|
Office |
B |
$29 |
|
Excel |
C |
$25 |
|
Word, Works, Suite, Home essentials |
D |
$10 |
|
Total Potential Amount Per Computer |
|
$110 |
1) The forms are easy request a form at https://iowamicrosoftcase.com/secure/RequestClaimForm.aspx?ClaimType=S you can claim up to $200 with no proof of purchase and no product Id numbers. For claims more than $200 you should review the instructions on the site.
2) If you apply online at https://iowamicrosoftcase.com/secure/FileClaimOnline.aspx You can claim up to $100 with no proof of purchase and no product IDs, and an additional $100 if you have the Product ID Numbers (follow the instructions carefully).
If you have any questions on how to make this claim call 1-877-477-0960.
Please send us your Microsoft claim amount ASAP by check, or if you need to assign your check, once you receive it, to A.L.F. Fairfield Train Safety and Quiet Zone, Box 2302, Fairfield, IA 52556. Thanks for taking advantage of this opportunity to help fund a quiet zone.
If you are waiting for your check please make an email pledge so we know what we can count on.Thanks for all you help and support. Regards, Bill Blackmore
July 23, 2007
Volunteers needed for ArtWalk and Farmer's Market
Dear Quiet Zonies (as we will forever be known),
The big news is that things seem to be going very well. I want to thank all of you because it is your support that has brought us to the brink of success. Even though there is a lot more to do we are rapidly moving towards getting a quiet zone!
1) There was a meeting on June 26th that involved the engineers for the City, the railroad, the special committee of the City Council that is working on the quiet zone, and the Iowa DOT. It seems from this initial crossing by crossing review that every street can meet the requirements for adding raised medians. These medians are necessary to make the crossings safer so the trains do not need to honk their horns.
2) French Reneker (the company that does street engineering for Fairfield) is updating some earlier estimates they made which will then be further refined by the special committee for presentation to City Council. We hope to see this happen in August.
3) Our goal is to then see the City Council vote to approve the project subject to finalizing costs and sources of funding.
4) What we need to do is have the money ready to deliver to the city for the necessary improvements.
5) Current estimates indicate the the total cost will be around $180,000. This is a bit more than we expected but is still eminently doable. This increase was due to the need to widen some streets and to make the improvements permanent and maintenance free.
6) We believe that the special quiet zone committee will recommend that the City use the $30,000 to $60,000 it will receive from the railroad for closing two crossings to help pay for the quiet zone.
7) So for now the goal is the same as we have been projecting--we need to raise about $120,000 as we initially estimated we would need.
8) We have already raised the first bench mark of around $60,000 which was the impetus for the city to take this issue seriously.
Now we need to ask everyone to turn in your pledges and all of you who haven’t yet given to please donate. If everyone on our list now of almost 500 people would just give $100 and also ask friends and neighbors to help and contribute, we can have a quiet zone. Now is the time to finalize the funding before the August City Council meeting so there can be no excuse not to do this simple thing to make our town a much better place to live (and sleep!). Send your tax deductible contributions to A.L.F. Fairfield Train Safety and Quiet Zone, Box 2302, Fairfield, IA 52556.
We'll send an email to let you know when we need everyone to turn out and show their support for the quiet zone. Thank you all for your financial and personal support and all your ideas and suggestions. We are close, so let's make it happen.
Regards, Bill Blackmore
June 3, 2007
Dear Friends of the Quiet Zone,
The special committee of the Fairfield City Council that was appointed by Mayor Malloy to research a quiet zone
met last week for the first time. I was impressed with the level of detail, professional approach, and commitment the committee has in creating a quiet zone for Fairfield. Everyone can feel comfortable that this matter is in capable hands for this stage
of the project. I believe we are well on our way to fulfilling our goals. Many creative and sound ideas
were brought up and the committee has now taken the important step to set up a meeting with representatives of the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration), local and regional officials of the railroad, and our city engineers to review solutions to each crossing.
What continues to impress the committee and inspire them is the community support. We raised
another $5,000 in the last few weeks so we need to keep it coming. If you have not yet made a tax deductible contribution to the cause,
see below for the details on how to do so. If you have already donated, you are allowed to make subsequent contributions! We have a number of donors who have made multiple contributions already.
Thanks
Bill Blackmore
May 17, 2007
Dear Friends,
We had another very successful meeting with the full City Council this last Monday night. It seems that the idea of self funding the project has really sunk in and changed a lot of minds. Mayor Malloy appointed a three member ad hoc committee consisting of John Revolinski, Christy Welty, and Daryn Hamilton to research and report back on all the details of having a quiet zone. Our feeling is that if the necessary improvements can be made and the cost is within our reach we will have a quiet zone very soon. Ed Malloy's comments were very supportive and it seems that many City Council members are leaning in favor of having a quiet zone. I am confident this will lead to success in the near future.
The one point that underlies this success is having the funds to do it. First I want to acknowledge and thank those who have pledged and contributed so generously and then ask the rest of the community to now join us in support with a tax deductible contribution. We have about 500 people on our quiet train email list. We have received pledges and contributions from about 175 people. That means there are over 300 people who are still planning or waiting to contribute. If each of the remaining 300+ would give $150 that would give us the money we need to reach $120,000, which is our estimated cost. A number of people have now made multiple donations to the cause. Anyone else who could add to their contribution would also make a big difference.
We need to finish our fund raising ASAP or the project may not go forward. The cost of a quiet zone is a drop in the bucket compared to the six million we are spending on our new Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, and peace mind and quieter nights are priceless.
Thanks Again Bill
Now it is up to all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Send tax deductible contributions to
AFL-FF Train Safety &Quiet Zone
PO Box 2302
Fairfield Iowa 52556
Bill Blackmore 919-1118
www.fairfieldquietzone.org
May 10th
update
Dear
Friends,
-
This is just a quick reminder that the Fairfield City Council Safety Committee recently voted 2 to1 in favor of a very strong and positive resolution to immediately form an Ad Hoc Committee to consolidate and verify the necessary information and steps to create a Quiet Zone for
-
-
The resolution will be will be presented to the full City Council tomorrow night 7:30 Monday May 14th. We will need people to be at that meeting to show support. Not everyone is in favor a Quiet Zone. Shocking but true!
-
-
Please remember to be very diplomatic to people who have other ideas. I know it can be frustrating when people don't support this very simple need for our community, but we don’t want to turn those who do not agree with us into strong advocates against us. It is great to speak your minds but even more important to respect everyone’s feelings and opinions. This is the key to moving ahead with a positive tone.
The most important things we can all do:
1) For those who are planning to contribute but haven’t had a chance please send in your contributions and an email letting me know.
2) Ask more of your neighbors to be on our email list ASAP
3) Attend the meeting and politely show support
At the meeting we can say we raised even more money and have more supporters since the last meeting.
Thanks to everyone for all you help and support
Bill
Send tax deductible Contributions to
AFL-FF Train Safety &Quiet Zone
Bill Blackmore 919-1118
May 6, 2007 Update
Dear Friend &Supporters,
The
Fairfield City Council Safety Committee voted 2 to1 in favor of a very
strong and positive resolution to immediately form an Ad Hoc Committee to
consolidate and verify the necessary information and steps to create
a Quiet Zone for
Congratulations-with your help we have raised about $60,000 to help fund the improvements for a Quiet Zone. This was an important benchmark. Right afterwards we held our first very successful formal meeting last weekend with the Fairfield City Council Safety Committee at City Hall. Over100 people who attended the meeting were all in support of a quiet Zone. The attendance and contributions made were instrumental in achieving our first step, meeting our April goals and getting this resolution on the floor and passed.
FYI-what is still needed are tighter estimates of the final cost of the project and engineering challenges, and an updated crossing by crossing analysis. We are told that later there will be public hearings on how each crossing will be affected by a quiet zone. This committee would be made of both members of the community and interested members of the City Council.
We have made a great leap forward to have a Fairfield Quiet Zone no later than New Year's Eve 2007. Yet we still have to do more to begin raising the second half of the cost, estimated to be about an additional $50,000 to $60,000 more, and receive those generous pledges that have been made. This was a huge step forward so please continue to contribute. The closer we get to the estimated cost, of $120000 for the improvement the stronger our chances are for success.
Make Tax Deductible Contributions to ALF-Fairfield Train Safety & Quiet
Zone,
PO Box 2302, Fairfield, Iowa 52556
www.fairfieldquietzone.org
Bill Blackmore
qt@natel.net.
919-1118
Thanks
Bill
Special Safety Committee Meeting
Saturday April 28th at 2:30 p.m.
Fairfield City Hall 112 South Main Street
Dear Friends of the Fairfield Train Safety and Quiet Zone,
Thank
You! We had a great response from our last email request and have doubled our contributions to $21,000 in receipts and about $22,000 in pledges. We received our largest single donation yet of $2,700. We have now raised a total of about $43,000 not yet considering our special benefactors. This is great and we continue to receive contributions every day. In fact opening all the letters, logging the contributions, and sending out email thank yous is taking lots of time.However
we still need more individuals to contribute, especially before the end of the month before our first Fairfield City Council Public Safety Committee meeting. Our private benefactors were impressed with our results and your response and have pledged to help with large contributions. Yet they feel even more community support is needed as we received contributions from only about 150 out of the almost 500 on the email list, and the fact that at least 5,000 people have been contacted through our flyer, many of them twice. Knowing that we are so close to our first benchmark, if you are planning to give please send something this week to (Tax deductible contribution) ALF-Fairfield Train Safety & Quiet Zone, PO Box 2302, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.The
first public meeting with the City Council Safety Committee is scheduled for Sat. April 28th at 2:30 p.m. at City Hall. This is an important meeting as we need the committee to recommend to the full City Council to act on this issue to end loud train horn noise. The committee's recommendation will hold a lot of weight. So please plan to attend this meeting as a physical show of support that will add to all of the work that has been accomplished thus far. Right now we feel that 2 of the 3 committee members are in support of the Quiet Zone and it would be great to have unanimous support going to the next level.
Photos from the historic meeting on April 28, 2007
But we still need to raise more money! If you are suddenly seized with the desire to make a donation, send it to:
ALF-Fairfield Train Safety & Quiet Zone, PO Box 2302, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.
For more info call or email Bill Blackmore qt@natel.net. 919-1118
- CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION-I made a presentation to the City Council (CC) on Dec. 18. Basically I stated that establishing a quiet zone would have both financial and quality of life benefits for Fairfield, and would be a great boon to the new Fairfield Arts and Convention Center (FACC). No action was requested, so there was little discussion and no vote. However, my sense is that if the community funds a quiet zone, that we will eventually get the CC’s support.
- PRIVATE FUNDING-After consulting with lots of people both inside and outside City government, I said we would raise the necessary funds privately to pay for the necessary crossing improvements. The basic plan is to raise around $50,000, roughly half the required amount, and then go back to the CC and request that they start the necessary actions to approve a quiet zone.
- FUND RAISERS-we need to establish a core group of people who will work to raise money for our quiet zone. Although it helps to have substantial contacts to do this sort of thing, anyone who has the time and desire to help will be able to do so. Please contact me at qt@natel.net if you want to help. Put “fund raiser” in the subject line to help me sort emails.
- NON-PROFIT STATUS-before actually accepting any money, we want to have non-profit status. Once we have accomplished this, we will open an escrow account where all funds will be deposited. If for some reason the project does not happen, all money received will be returned with interest. I consulted with an attorney about non-profit status and he offered to help. However, we are first checking to see if we can use someone else’s non-profit status as a vehicle for fund raising. Anyone who has suggestions of possible vehicles for non-profit please contact me.
- FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS-it is time to start seeking commitments to support our quiet zone project. My wife Martha and I are going to start the ball rolling by committing $2,000 to the fund. I believe that this will be a very profitable contribution, as we are very sure that once the quiet zone is established, that our house, located just 4 houses from the RR tracks, will gain much more than this amount in value. Please email your commitment to qt@natel.net, and put “financial commitment” in the subject line.
I hope we can get this project done by the time the Arts and Convention Center opens officially in early 2008. As a community we raised millions for the FACC. We should be able to raise the necessary money for a quiet zone in the next 6 months. Thanks and have a great 2007. Regards, Bill Blackmore
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Quiet Zone Raffle Poster and Prize List (PDF
Dear Quiet Zone Supporter,
We
have had a great success so far with the launch of our Quiet Zone Tropical
Raffle. We are offering trips to Hawaii and Cancun with 140 other great
prizes. We are moving the City Council forward to coming to a final decision
on a quiet zone.
We are sure they will approve a quiet zone for Fairfield subject to us raising the money. We are not sure if they will participate financially but will know more on this hopefully at the next City Council meeting.
Please find attached a flyer you can forward to friends and family to participate in the raffle. You don't need to be in Fairfield to use most of the great gifts we have. Please remember that each of us only need to buy or sell 4 tickets each, but that means everyone on our list if we are to be successful.
Thanks for
Your continued support.
Bill
Fairfield Quiet Zone Tropical Raffle Final Drawing
Saturday
March 1st, 7:30 p.m. at ART and Convention Center
Featuring
“The
Encore Players”
The Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. As this is a fund-raiser, admission to the Encore Players concert is by purchase of a raffle ticket at the door, or by a suggested donation of $25. Two grand prizes will be awarded — accommodations for four in Maui and accommodations for four in Cancun. Tempting second prizes and total prizes numbering over 140 make this a winners’ raffle! At 8:30 p.m. the theatre doors will open to everyone, and the drawing will begin, presided by the one-and-only Jonas Magram as Master of Ceremonies. Raffle tickets will be available in the atrium and during the first phase of the drawing. Once the drawing has concluded, there will be an opportunity to trade prizes and celebrate the success of the
We need you to forward this e mail and everyone to Make the quiet Zone a Reality
Dec.6, 2007.
Dec 3, 2007.
Fairfield Receives Conditional Approval by City Council, with a 5 to 1 Vote for “The Quiet Zone”!!!!
The City has agreed to contribute between $25,000 and $35,000 to our efforts. The amount depends on how much the City receives from the railroad for the closing of two crossings. These funds will help pay for initial improvements. The City will keep additional money for other worthy projects and future maintenance of the QZ. We need to raise about $90,000 to get started!!!
We need a lot of help selling raffle tickets and other fund raising efforts. It sounds like a lot of money. However, if everyone will buy and or help sell just 5 tickets each we will have the Quiet Zone. We need to call our friends, family and neighbors. Everyone will have a great chance to win a trip to Hawaii or Cancun and one of 140 other great prizes.
Please forward this e-mail and email me if you can help or want to buy tickets
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